Toy vehicle



April 13, 1937- E. F. slLKMAN n 2,077,274

TOY VEHICLE Filed sept. 27. 1935 Inventor l' /mulh' :MHH/f Hrw Z'daaan-Lzynaaaz, L n Y W I' 1 IlmlByl Patented Apr. 13, 1937 VJAmilrication e'ptemli'ex"` 27, 935, Serial i claim;

This invention relates to improvements in toy velncles and among the objects of the invention 1s to provide a vehicle of this character which can be cheaply and economically constructed and which at the same time is particularly adapted for use as a toy by very young children, the construction of such being that the possibility of the same tilting to one side or the other, regardless of the Weight of the child when using the same is practically non-existent. 'I'his is so even to the steering of the vehicle to the right or to the left.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of l5 the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:-

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the toy vehicle.

Figure 2 is a top plan View.

Figure 3 is a front elevational View.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail sectional view illustrating certain details of structure hereinafter more specifically pointed out.

Referring to the ldrawing by reference numerals it will be seen that the improved toy, in the preferred embodiment thereof consists of a base or platform member 5 consisting of a single blank of suitable material, preferably wood, cut, shaped and dimensioned to provide a platform having an intermediate tapered portion and having its greatest width adjacent the rear extremity thereof. The platform thus produced presents relatively wide side portions 6 the inner edges of which form parallel opposed sides of a substantially U-shaped notch 1 the inner end of which terminates slightly forwardly of the transverse center of the platform. At its rearwardmost edge the platform 5 is additionally notched as at 8 so that with the notch 1 a substantially T- shaped notch is provided with the head of the T being at the rearwardmost end of the platform thus providing a relatively wide entrance opening for the notch 1.

Each of the sides 6 at the rear end thereof is provided with a notch opening inwardly from the rear edge of the platform 5 and accommodating rollers IU preferably of wood. 'Ihese rollers I0 are mounted on suitable axles I I journaled within the notches 9. The rollers I0 are prefer- 5'0 ably formed of wood.

At the front thereof and in line with the notch 1 the platform 5 is provided with a circular opening I2 of a suitable diameter. The opening I2 is bridged by a bracing and reinforcing block I3 55 extending from one side edge to the other of the platform 5 and secured to the platform in any suitable manner. On its underside the block I3 is notched as at I4 to accommodate a pair of rollers I5 provided on the ends of a single axle I6 extending transversely through the lower squared end I1a of a steeringpost I1.

For the major portion of its length the steering post I1 is round and is journaled in a vertical opening I8 provided therefor in the block I3 which, it will be noted, also serves as a bearing block for the steering post I1. Suitable collars I9 are provided for securing the post I1 in posi'- ton against movement through the bore I8 of the block' '13. On its upper end the post I1 is equipped with a suitable handle 20 detachably secured thereto in any suitable manner and as indicated generally at 2 I. Rollers I5, post I1, and handle 20 are also preferably made of wood.

The shape of the platform 5 and the arrangement of the rollers IIJ and I5 are such that a shifting of the weight of the child either forwardly or rearwardly or to the right or left will not tend to cause the toy vehicle to tilt either forwardly or rearwardly or to either the right o-r left, and this regardless whether the vehicle is traveling in a straight path or to the right or left incidental to a steering of the vehicle. Further in this connection it will be noted that due to the provision of the notch 1 the foot used for propelling the vehicle will come into contact with the ground in substantial alinement with the steering post I1, and this. regardless Whether the right foot or the left foot is used for propelling the vehicle. By reason of this feature the platform 5 may be of the Width indicated for safety purposes and will permit the child to propel the vehicle more easily than where, with a wide platform, the propelling foot would have to be placed at either side of the platform instead of about the middle of the toy as is now permitted through the provision of the notch 1. Thus a toy of this character will have all the advantages of the now two-wheeled scooter toy now generally used without the disadvantages of such a toy, and which type of toy cannot generally be used by children of immature age.

The utility and advantages of a toy of this character will be apparent from the following: In using the toy one foot is placed on the platform 5 either to the right or left of the notch 1 and the other foot, used vin propelling-the vehicle is accommodated in the notch 1. This will permit the propelling foot, in the act of propelling the toy, to come into contact with the ground within the notch 1 and laterally of, and

abreast of the foot resting on the platform in substantial alinement with the steering post. Such will permit easy propulsion of the toy, having all the advantages of the well known scooter toy without any of the disadvantages thereof, as for example easy tilting of the toy, and to which the scooter toy is susceptible; and in addition will have an advantage over the other known type of toy generally referred to as a coaster in that in the latter type of toy thepropelling foot is at the rear of the toy.v` 'It will therefore be appreciated that the main featureof the present invention is the provision of the opening at ap. l

proximately the center of the platform of the toy for accommodating the propelling foot, it

being through the medium of this opening. that A a safety toy ofthis character is provided, `that is to say a toy which is not `likely totilt either when moving in a straight path or incidental toA Further the toy of this invention being formed substantially completely of wood can be cheaply and economically constructed and can be used by a child indoors, it being primarily intended for children of tender age due to the lightness in weight of the toy.

Having thus described nw invention what is claimed as new isz- A toyof the character described comprising a substantially U-shapedv broad at platform, supporting rollersrfor the platform mounted in opposite sides of the U adjacent the open end of the U, said platform at the closed end of the U being provided with a circular opening, a bearing blocksecured to the platform and bridging said circular opening, a steering post journaled in the bearing block, and rollers mounted on the lower endof the steering post and movable toward the Vrightorvleft within the confine of the circular opening. i EDWIN F; SILKMAN. 

